Chris Goulding
July 23, 2020
Luke Whitehead
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 9/02/81
- Place of Birth: Walnut Creek, California (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 199
- Weight (KG): 100
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Louisville (2000–2004)
- NBL DEBUT: 10/01/08
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 14/02/09
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: Gold Coast 2008-09
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Luke Whitehead was born in Walnut Creek, California (USA) and attended Oak Hill Academy. After graduating in 2000 Whitehead joined University of Louisville where he played until 2004.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Luke Whitehead made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Blaze at 26 years of age. He scored 18 points in his first game.
Luke Whitehead played two seasons with the Gold Coast Blaze. He averaged 15.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 37 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 28 | Gold Coast | 8-22 (10) | 27 | 882 | 423 | 278 | 59 | 89 | 189 | 29 | 8 | 80 | 92 | 148 | 311 | 48% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 127 | 159 | 80% | 55% | 48% | 30 |
| 2007-08 | 27 | Gold Coast | 15-15 (8) | 10 | 341 | 136 | 93 | 29 | 40 | 53 | 10 | 3 | 32 | 34 | 45 | 120 | 38% | 4 | 16 | 25% | 42 | 61 | 69% | 46% | 39% | 22 | Totals | 37 | 1223 | 559 | 371 | 88 | 129 | 242 | 39 | 11 | 112 | 126 | 193 | 431 | 44.8% | 4 | 19 | 21.1% | 169 | 220 | 76.8% | 53% | 45% | 30 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 28 | Gold Coast | 8-22 (10) | 27 | 32.7 | 15.7 | 10.3 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 7.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 11.5 | 48% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 4.7 | 5.9 | 80% | 55% | 48% | 30 |
| 2007-08 | 27 | Gold Coast | 15-15 (8) | 10 | 34.1 | 13.6 | 9.3 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 12.0 | 38% | 0.4 | 1.6 | 25% | 4.2 | 6.1 | 69% | 46% | 39% | 22 | Total | 37 | 33.1 | 15.1 | 10.0 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 11.6 | 44.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 21.1% | 0.1 | 0.5 | 76.8% | 53% | 45% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- South Korea - Daegu Orions (2005), Seoul SK Knights (2005) | Germany - ALBA Berlin (2005–2006)
Whitehead joined the Daegu Orions for the 2005 Korean Basketball League season, playing his first professional season in South Korea before later spending time in 2005 with the Seoul SK Knights.
Whitehead joined ALBA Berlin for the 2005–2006 Basketball Bundesliga season, where he appeared in 27 league games and was credited with averages of 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while playing 20.6 minutes per contest.
During the 2005–2006 campaign, Whitehead was part of an ALBA Berlin roster that included Jovo Stanojevic, Matej Mamic, Nenad Canak, Marvin Stone, and Quadre Lollis, and he played in European competition, including a EuroCup game against Adecco Estudiantes where he recorded 4 points and 5 rebounds in 19:15, and he finished the season with ALBA Berlin winning the 2006 German Basketball Cup.
COLLEGE
Whitehead played college basketball at Louisville during the 2000–01 season before continuing with the Cardinals through the 2003–04 season, competing for four years in Conference USA under head coach Denny Crum and later Rick Pitino.
In the 2000–01 season, Louisville finished 19–14 overall and 10–6 in Conference USA, and Whitehead appeared in 33 games as a freshman, averaging 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting above 50 percent from the field.
Across that freshman campaign, he recorded multiple double-figure scoring games and established himself as a consistent interior presence, contributing significant minutes in conference play and postseason competition.
During the 2001–02 season, Louisville went 19–13 overall and 9–7 in Conference USA, and Whitehead played 31 games, averaging 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while again shooting efficiently from the field and ranking among the team leaders in rebounding.
In a game against Coppin State on December 12, 2001, Whitehead was upended while making a alley-oop when he was undercut by Larry Tucker of Coppin State and landed on the side of his head.
He was taken to the hospital to determine if there was any damage to his kidneys or spine.
Whitehead returned from that incident and continued his sophomore season, finishing among the team’s leading rebounders and posting several double-doubles in Conference USA action.
In the 2002–03 season, Louisville finished 25–7 overall and 12–4 in Conference USA, and Whitehead appeared in 32 games, averaging 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while helping the Cardinals reach the NCAA Tournament.
During that 2002–03 season he was named the Conference USA Tournament MVP after leading Louisville to the tournament championship, delivering strong scoring and rebounding performances across multiple games in the event.
As a senior in 2003–04, Louisville went 20–10 overall and 9–7 in Conference USA, and Whitehead played 29 games, averaging 12.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while ranking among the team leaders in both categories.
In that final season he led the Demons in interior scoring and rebounding efficiency, recorded multiple double-doubles, and concluded his collegiate career with consistent production on both ends of the floor.
During his career at U of L he accumulated more than 1,000 points and over 600 rebounds.
Over four seasons from 2000 to 2004, Whitehead played in more than 120 collegiate games, steadily increased his scoring average each year, and established himself as one of Louisville’s primary frontcourt contributors throughout the early 2000s Conference USA era.
Additional Info: During his career at U of L he accumulated more than 1,000 points and over 600 rebounds. In 2003 he was named the Conference USA Tournament MVP.
In a game against Coppin State on December 12, 2001, Whitehead was upended while making a alley-oop when he was undercut by Larry Tucker of Coppin State and landed on the side of his head.
He was taken to the hospital to determine if there was any damage to his kidneys or spine.
COACHING HISTORY
Luke Whitehead moved into basketball coaching and player development following his professional playing career.
Whitehead established Louisville Legends and has coached players through basketball skills and development sessions focused on ball handling, defence, passing, shooting, footwork and athletic development.
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